Another day, another hit to Jim Tressel’s character. This time, it holds more weight than some talking head or radio gabmaster.

Oregon State president Ed Ray was executive vice president and provost at Ohio State in 2001, and had input into the hiring of Tressel. He’s now chairman of the NCAA executive committee, and told Rachel Bachman of The Oregonian that “this whole episode to me is beyond the pale. It’s totally unacceptable. I’m pretty disappointed and startled by it all.”

Jim Tressel's character is being judged by university officials across the nation. (AP Photo)

Tressel hid knowledge of players selling memorabilia from his superiors -- knowing players were ineligible for the 2010 season -- and lied to his superiors about his knowledge of the NCAA violations. Tressel said he stayed quiet because he didn’t want to interfere with a federal investigation of a local tattoo parlor where the players sold the memorabilia.

The Columbus Dispatch reported last week that sources said Tressel forwarded an email explaining the scheme to the mentor of Ohio State quarterback Terrelle Pryor, one of the two players named in the emails.

Ray, who emphasized to Bachman that he was speaking solely for himself, said, this when asked how NCAA enforcement officials may view Tressel’s situation:

“If I were in their position, I’d be a hanging judge,” Ray said. “I think there are lines you don’t cross in your own life … I’m not a big mercy guy. I’m not a big understander of extenuating circumstances. We all sort of engage in thinking about situational ethics. But I’m kinda old-school. And I think you’re either ethical or you’re not ethical.”